Electric-lamp socket.



R. B. BENJAMIN.

ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET.

' LPPLIUATION FILED JUNE 7, 1909. I 1,046,431 v Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

" 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IIIIH' R. B.'BENJAMIN.

ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, 1909.

Patepted Dec. 10, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. B. BENJAMIN.

ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET. APPLICATION FILED mum, 1909;

1 ,046,431 Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

3 SHEETS-EHEET 3.

' srarns rric.

REUBEN 1B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC-LAMP SOCKET,

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 10, 1912,

Application filed June 7, 1909. I Serial No. 500,644.

To all whom it may concern:

T Be it knownthat I, REUBEN B. BnNJA- MIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric-Lamp Sockets, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to incandescent electric lamp sockets, and has particular reference, first, to improvements in the casing, whereby an unusually strong and rigid support is provided for the lamp and the shade or globe supported ,by the socket, and

second, to improve means for attaching the shade or globe to the socket. In devices of this class the casing is ordinarily construct, ed in two parts comprising a body. ortion and a cap, the cap being secured to t "e conduit and the body portion being attached to said cap. In such devicesthe cap and casing must be separated to give access to the binding screw for the attachment of wires. A disadvantage of such a construction is that where heavy shades globes and the like are carried by the socket, the parts of the casing are liable to become separated from each other, the body portion, to which the shade is attached, becoming'loosened and falling with the shade, or being left suspended by the leading-in wires.

In the device herein described, and shown in the drawings, I so construct the body portion of the casing that it extends to and is secured upon the conduit, provision being made for access to the binding screws without'disconn ectionof this body from the conduit. I also provide means for rigidly securing the globe or shade in position, by which they are attached directly to the lower edge of the casing without the use of a separate attaching-ring, such as is ordinarily used.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated two slightly different forms of socket, in both of which the body portion of the casing completely incloses the lamp holder and other live parts, except for two openings at substantially opposite points for access to the. binding screws. In both of these forms of the device a cover, which may be in the form of a cap, surrounds the upper portion of the casing and is made movable to exposethe openings through which access is gained to the binding screws. In

one form of the device this cover is made movable in a direction longitudinally of the socket, and may even be removed if desired. In the other form this part is provided with openings which may be brought into register with the openings in the casing by revolving said part. In this form of the device the cover may be removed if desired, but this is ordinarily unnecessary.

In these drawingseFigure 1 is an elevational view of one form of the device with the cover shown in section and raised to afford access to the binding screws; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of this form of the device with the cover in position, the

section being taken on the lines 22 of Figs.

1 and A; Fig. 3 shows alongitudinal section taken throu h the device on the line 33 of Fig. 4, looking ill the direction indicated by the arrows; Fig.4 shows the orcelain base of the device in elevation an the casing in section on the line H of Fig. 3, looking downward; Fig. 5 is a bottom lan view of the device; Fi 6 shovg the asein plan and the casing IH SBClZIOII on the line 6-6 of' "Figs. 2 and 7, this view illustratin particularly the means for preventing re ative rotation of the base and the casing; Fig. 7 is van elevational side view of the upper portion of. the socket with the casing removed, showing the means for preventing relative rotation'of the base and the casing; Fig. 8 illustrates the cover in perspective; Fig. 9 isa perspective view.of one of the shade-locking dogs detached from the device; Fig. 10 shows, partly in section, the form of tlie device in which the cover is provided with openings which may be brought into register with the openings in the casing so as to afford access to the binding screws; Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 but with the section taken in a different lane; Fig. 12 is a broken elevat-ional view i lustratingthe upper portion of this form of the socket, and particularly the means for retaining the cover in position on the casing; Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the cover; and Figs. 14 and 15' show a method whichrmay be employed in lieu of that shown in Fig. 1 for holding the cap in place.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, 15 is the casing, which will usually beconstructed of sheet metal or similar material.

' is surmounted b a dome-shaped top. The

lower portion 0 the casing is expanded to form a shade-receiving mouth 17, the lower edge of said mouth being further expanded to form an annular rim 18, to which is attached the shade-holding device. The upper portion of the casing '15 is drawn in to form a neck 19 having screw threads rolled thereon. Secured inthe upper end of the.

threadedneck'19 is a supporting bushing 20, interiorly threaded for the reception of a pipe or thelike, as usual. The usual set screw 21 is provided for securing the socket against rotation and consequent detachment from the pipe. Within the casing is the.porcelain base 22, having a cup-shaped cavity in its lowerend in which is secured the threaded lamp-receiving shell 23. This shell 23 is secured in position by a bolt 24 which extends downwardly through the base, and by a screw 25 which extends upwardly through the base and screws into a plate 26 located in a suitable recess or depression in the upper side of the base and carrying a binding screw 27. The contact for engagement with the center contact of the lam consists of a plate 28 havin its innerend oflset and extending below a oss 29 formed on the material of the. base at the inner end of the cavity which contains the lampreceiving shell. This plate 28 is secured 1n position by a hollow rivet or e elet 30 which extends into a plate 31 locate in a suitable depression in the upper part of the base and carrying abinding screw 32. The casing is formed with two'oppositely disposed openings 33 and 34 through which access may be had to the binding screws with a screw driver or other suitable instrument. A bowlshaped cover 35 surrounds and incloses the part 16 of the casing, and when in. its nor mal osition has its lower edge resting upon the s oulder 36 between'the body portion 15 of the casing and the smaller portion 16, as shown inFigs. 2 and 3, and has a central aperture through which extends the 'su porting bushing 20. This edge 37 of thls central aperture is formed with a notch 38,

the metal on one side of said notch being bent outward sli htly and the other edge being bent inwar so that the edge is made .to constitute a screw thread of one turn. This thread engages with the screw threaded neck 19 when the cover is lowered, and by revolving the cover in the proper direction the cover is caused to screw down into position with its edge abutting the shoulder 36.

After the socket has been attached to the end of the pipe by screwing the neck 20 thereupon in the .usual manner, with the leading-in wires extending through the pipe and down upon opposite sides of the base 22, the cover 35 will be rotated until the upper edge thereof becomes disengaged from the screw thread on the neck 19, whereupon the cover may be raisedso as to expose the openings 33 and 34 in the side of the casing. The wireswill then be attached to the binding screws 27 and 32 as usual, after which the cover will be lowered until its upper edge engages the threaded neck 19, whereupon rotationof the coverwill cause the same to further descend and finally to be firmly locked in normal position. The cover,

when made of metal, is provided with an insulating lining 39, of vulcanized fiber or other suitable material, to prevent loose ends of wires coming in contact therewith.

To prevent rotation of the base and lampholder when a lamp is screwed into the latter the base is indented at two points, as. illustrated in Fig. 6, so as to leave a rib 40 extending vertically along one side of the upper and smaller part of the base. The upper part of the casing is slitted at '41 and 42. The metal on each side of the narrow strip between the two slits 41 and 42 is indented, as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7, whereby inwardly projecting humps 43 and 44 areprovided, between which the rib 40 on the base is confined when the base is up in position in the casing, thus preventing rotation of thebase and easing relatively to each other.

The porcelain base 22 is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed longitudinal grooves 22 terminating at their upper ends in shoulders 22". The casing 15 is formed at-each side with an indentation 15 which appears upon the inner side of the casing as a hump. The-met-alof the casing is slitted downwardly from the opening 33 for a short distance upon each side of each depression or hump 15 so as to form a resilienttongue 15 carrying the hump.

In assembling the 'device the orcelain base is inserted into the casing rom the lower end'and the resiliency of the tongues 15 permits the same to spring outward sufficiently to permit this to be done in spite of the fact that the humps 15 extend inward. When the base reaches the limit of its upward movement the humps 15 have passed the shoulders 22 and the resilient tongues 15 move inwardly, causing the humps 15* to engage under the shoulders 22 to prevent the base from falling out of the open end of the casing. If at any time it should become necessary, for purposes of-inspection, repair or the like, to remove the base and parts carried thereby from the casing, this may be readily done by springing the tongues 15 outward or away from each other, whereupon the base and other parts will fall out of the casing.

Heretofore in devices of ,this class it has been common practice to secure to the'out side of the casing a shade holder comprising a ring which extends around the casing and is clamped thereto by means of a bolt or the like, this ring having means for engaging the'edge of the shade. \Vhere. the shade is made very heavy, or when there is employed a large heavy lass globe used for decorative purposes, this old form of shade holder has not afforded a sufficiently strong and rigid means for supporting the same. This to be attended with danger.

objectionable feature, added to the fact that the socket itself consisted of a cap and body portion, the cap being primarily supported and the body portion being insecurely fastened thereto and carrying the shade, has caused the use of heavy shades and globes By so constructing the socket that the body portion itself issecured directly to the supporting pipe, and further, by directly securing the globe or shade to the casing without the use of a separate shade holder clamped upon the casing, I am enabled to provide a structure which is capable of carrying shades or globes of any practically desirableweight and yet maintain the globe, lamp and socket in alinement with the supporting pipe, whether these parts be arranged to hang vertically or to extendoutward from a wall or the like.

The means which I employ for securing the globe or shade to the casing will now bedescribed, and consists of a ring 15 arranged toJoe located below and parallel with the outturned lower edge 18 of the casing. This ring has a portion 46 extending upward, and has its upper edge 47 turned over inwardly upon the edge 18 of the casing to retain the ring in position. It will be seen that this ring may be revolved around the socket but cannot be separated from the edge of the casing. 'Upon the under side of the edge 18 are arranged a series of dogs 48, one of which is shown in per spective by itself in Fig. 9. These dogs are illustrated as three in number, but four or more may be employed if desired, and consist 'of curved fiat bars pivoted near one end to the edge 18 of the casing by means ,of rivets or eyelets 49. The revoluble ring has its vertical portion 46 indented at certain points, shown as three in number, to

form inwardly extending humps 50 positioned to engage the outer curved edge of each of the dogs 49 at the same time, whereby when the ring is revolved so as to bring these humps into engagement with the dogs the latter will be moved inwardly. The shade or globe 51 may be of the ordinary form, having a portion of restricted diameter and an expanded part above the same.

When the globe or shade is put up into position with its flange, 52 thrust up into the lower portion of the casing, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the ring 45 will then be ro- 5 tatedin the direction which will cause the humps 50 to engage the curved outer edges of the dogs 48. The humps 50now act as cams to force the dogs 48 inwi'airdly and cause the same to grip the shade or ;,,globe. 51

at it s part of smallest diameter. To retain the ring in such a position that thes dogs 18 are held in their gripping position; there is provided a spring catch 54, having an end which projects beyond the edge of the ring for manipulation. This catch engages with one'of a series of teeth 55 on the under side of the edge 18 of the casing, these teeth 55 appearing as depressions upon the upper side of the part 18 and being formed by stamping the metal of the part 18, as shown in Figs. 4: and 5. WVhen it is desired to remove the shade or globe the spring catch 54 will be depressed to free the end of the same from the tooth with which it isin engagement wherr'the ring may then be revolved in a direction to free the humps 50 from the dogs 48.

In order to insure the opening of the dogs when desired,'the revoluble ring 15 is provided with otherhumps 56 which, when the ring is revolved in the unlocking direction, engage; inclines on the rear or shorter ends of the dogs 48 and thrust these shorter ends inward, thus moving the outer or shadeengaging ends of the dogs outward and throwing the dogs around into the space between, the ring 45 and the edge 18 of the casing. The shade may now be readily withdrawn from the mouth of the casing.

Referring now to Figs- 10 to 13 inclusive, the form of the invention shown in these figures is provided with a cap 57 which is formed with openings 58 positioned to regisneed not be removed in order to reach the. I binding screws, but the latter may be accomplished by simply turning the cap around on the casing until the openings of the c ap register with the openings in the casing. After the wires have been properly secured to the binding screws the cap may be then rotated slightly to carry these openings out of register "and the device is then completely closed. The means for holding the cap 57 on the casing without preventing' rotation thereof comprises a head 60 with which the lower edge of the casing is provided, and a pair of oppositely disposed spring ton ues '61 formed by slitting the material 0 the casing. Each of these tongues is formed with a crimp 62 which extends into the bead 60 on the casing and effectually prevents the cap from being drawn up off the casing. In order that the cap may, if required, be taken off, the bead 60 onwill register with the spring tongue 61 and the cap may thereupon be lifted from the casing. The resilient tongues 61 are provideilwith an indentation 64 which appears upon the inner side of the casing as humps, these humps extending into notches 65 formed in the material of the base, whereby the base is prevented from dropping out of the casing, the hump and notch accomplishing the same function as the grooves 22* and bumps 15 of the form of the device hereinbefore described.

In the modification shown in Figs. 14 and 15 a methodo-f holding the cap in place is employed which may be used in lieu of that shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive. Instead of forming the neck with screw threads, the same is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed tongues 66 which may be formed during the operation of stamping the shell, by forcing a portion of the material thereof outward. The central opening in the cap is, in this case, provided with a pair of 0ppositely disposed notches 67 through which the tongues 66 pass when the cap is slipped down ovccthe neck. After the cap has been thus placed in position it may be rotated to carry the notches out of register with the tongues, whereupon the cap is securely locked in posit-ion by the engagement of the lower edge of each tongue with the edge of the opening in the cap.

Having thus described my invention, what i claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is: p v

. 1. An electric lamp socket having a unitary c'asing member, means rigid with reaspect thereto for supporting a shade, means I one of its ends, a shade-holding device fixed for locking said shade to said last-named means, a supporting bushing secured to said casing member, said casing member having an opening affording access to the interior thereof, and a cover made movable to expos said opening.

2. In an electric lamp socket, a unitary casing member, a supporting bushing rigidly secured thereto, shadeholding means :red to said casing member, said casing in mbcr having an opening for access to the interior thereof, and a cover made movable to expose said opening.

3. in an electric lamp socket, a unitar casing member having an end adapted to receive a lamp and shade, supporting means secured to said casing, means fordocking the shade in place, said casing member having an opening afiordin access to the interior thereof, and movable means for normally closing said opening.

4. In an electric lamp socket, a casing having a supporting bushing rigidly secured at en s, a shade-holding device fixed at its opposite end, said casing having openings affording access to the mterior thereof, and a cover made movable to expose said openings.

6. In an electric lamp socket, a casing having supporting means fixed to one of its ends and having its opposite end expanded to receive a shade, means carried by said expanded end for holding said shade, said casing having an opening afiording access to the interior thereof, anda cover made movable to expose said opening.

7. In an electric lamp socket, the combination with an insulating base carrying associated lamp contacts and bindin terminals, of a casing adapted to recelve said base, said casing having 0 enings therein "through which access can. e had to said binding terminals, means for connecting said casing to a conduit or the like, and a cover movably mounted on said casin and normally hiding the openings thereof, but disclosing said openings when moved, for the purposes set forth. w 8 In an electric-lamp socket, the combinationwith an insulating base'having associated lamp contacts and binding terminals, of a casing adapted to receive said base and formed with an opening therein through which access can be had to one of said bind-, ing terminals, and a cover rotatably connected with said casing so as normally to hide said opening, but to disclose said opening when rotated, for the purposes set forth.

9. In an electric lamp socket, the combination with an insulating base,-la'mp contacts atthe front side of said base and binding terminals at the rear side of said base, of a casing adapted to receive said insulating base, and having an opening at the rear end thereof through which access can be had to one of said binding terminals, a supporting bushing secured to the rear end of said casing, and a cap rotatably mounted on the rear end of said casing, said cap normally hiding said opening but disclosing phe kslame when moved, for the purposes set ort I In witness whereof, I have hereunto sub scribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN. Witnesses Riemann HoLLnN, C. L. Horxms.

scales 0: this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addreuing the Commissioner of Patents, 

